La inseguridad alimentaria es un fenómeno que afecta a millones de hogares en América Latina. Herramientas válidas y confiables para su medición son esenciales para la mejor focalización de los programas abocados a este problema. La Escala Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA) ha sido propuesta como instrumento regional y fue recientemente aplicada en Colombia, Guatemala y México. Este estudio evalúa las características psicométricas del instrumento y estima el grado de similitud entre esas mediciones. Inicialmente, se determinó que 15 ítems tuvieron contenidos equivalentes en los tres países. Al aplicarle el modelo matemático de Rasch, ELCSA mostró buen ajuste a ese modelo y un comportamiento consistente con el marco conceptual subyacente. Sin embargo, entre Guatemala y México se detectaron diferencias mayores a 1,0 lógitos en cuatro ítems, de los cuales uno solo presentó una diferencia cercana a 2 lógitos. Al omitir este ítem de subsiguientes análisis se atenuaron las diferencias en los otros ítems. Variaciones en el lenguaje, así como en el diseño de las muestras analizadas explicarían en parte los resultados de este estudio. A pesar de las diferencias detectadas, ELCSA parece medir de manera similar la experiencia de los hogares que confrontan situaciones de inseguridad alimentaria.Palabras Clave: ineguridad alimentaria, medición, Rasch, américa latina. PSYCHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOOD SECURITY SCALE (ELCSA) APPLIED IN COLOMBIA, GUATEMALA Y MÉXICOFood insecurity is a phenomenon affecting millions of households in Latin America. Valid and reliable tools are essential to improve targeting of programs addressing this issue. The Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) has been proposed as a regional instrument and was recently applied in Colombia, Guatemala and México. This study assesses the psychometric characteristics of this tool and estimates the degree of similarity between these measures. Initially, it was determined that 15 items had equivalent content matter across the three countries. After applying the mathematical model Rasch to ELCSA, this tool showed good adjustment to the model, and a performance consistent with the underlying conceptual framework. Nevertheless, between Guatemala and Mexico differences greater than 1.0 logits were detected in 4 of the items, one of which showed a difference close to 2 logits. Removing this item from subsequent analyses lessened the differences among the other items. Variations in the language used, as well as different sample designs might partly explain the results of this study. Despite the differences detected here, ELCSA appears to measure the experience of the households confronting food insecurity in similar manner.

Objective : We assessed the validity of a locally adapted Colombian Household Food Security Scale (CHFSS) used as a part of the 2006 evaluation of the food supplement component of the Plan for Improving Food and Nutrition in Antioquia, Colombia (MANA -Plan Departamental de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional de Antioquia).Methods: Subjects included low-income families with pre-school age children in MANA that responded affirmatively to at least one CHFSS item (n = 1,319). Rasch Modeling was used to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the items through measure and INFIT values. Differences in CHFSS performance were assessed by area of residency, socioeconomic status and number of children enrolled in MANA. Unidimensionality of a scale by group was further assessed using Differential Item Functioning (DIF).Results: Most CHFSS items presented good fitness with most INFIT values within the adequate range of 0.8 to 1.2. Consistency in item measure values between groups was found for all but two items in the comparison by area of residency. Only two adult items exhibited DIF between urban and rural households. Conclusion:The results indicate that the adapted CHFSS is a valid tool to assess the household food security of participants in food assistance programs like MANA.

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Aim: To describe plasma retinol values according to age, gender and pubertal maturation. Type of study: Comparative, transverse and descriptive. Place: Medellín, Colombia. Subjects and methods: Plasma retinol values were determined in 588 boys and 531 girls aged between 6 and 18 y. For this, we used spectrophotometry by UV oxidation of retinol, results below 0.87 mmol/l were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: Mean retinol plasma concentrations were slightly higher in girls under 10 y. However, above this age, values are generally higher in boys. Plasma retinol concentrations increased with pubertal maturation in both boys and girls in a statistically significant manner. The highest values were observed in girls with mammary development grades 3 and 4 (Po0.05) and in boys with external genitalia development grades 1 and 2 (Po0.05). Vitamin A deficiency based on plasma retinol concentration (o0.70 mmol/l), was observed in 3.6% of all individuals regardless of gender. Conclusions: Plasma retinol concentration is correlated to pubertal maturation in both boys and girls. Vitamin A deficiency in school children and adolescents of Medellín is not a major health problem.

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